ode to the hot dog.

now those who know me would be saying, "ode to the hot dog...kelsey is doing an ode to the hot dog..?" to which i would respond with a resounding yes. i feel a flash from the past is necessary in order to really put into perspective how monumental this occasion truly is. first let me ask; who, as a child, did not like hot dogs? no hand should be raised. see, as a child development major, an avid babysitter and an aunt of 9,almost 10, i am fully aware that the hot dog is a child best friend. the glorious food group that appears on your plate or in your mac n cheese (okay, that is still gross) when mom doesn't have time to make dinner or when the babysitter is hashin out the dinner for the night. but, you see, i was not that little kid. i, brace yourself, did not like hot dogs. not only did i not like them i despised them. with every ounce of hatred my body could muster. i could not stand the taste. cringing, i would feed this hunk of..of whatever it is to these helpless children who knew no better but did what their babysitter told them to do. now the hot dogs were not alone on the list of food forsaken* by the young kelsey ann mckinnon. no, there were others. among them were onions, cheese cake, bell peppers, spinach, pie, meatballs, basically just meat in general, and supreme pizza, just to name a few. yes, i was a picky picky child. let us fast forward to the present. nay, back up a bit to about 5 months ago. i had just moved to provo, ut. a place filled with nothing familiar to me minus my brother, his wife, and the marriott where we stayed every time we came to visit. upon moving there my father had told me there was a hot dog stand that i must try before moving (at the time i was planning on returning to byu-idaho for the winter semester). after hearing him say this i remember saying, "yeah, okay dad" while simultaneously thinking, "kill me now if a hot dog stand is all i have to look forward to in this place." indeed, i was an optimist. now, scooting about another month or so into the future (making this about 4 months ago) my brother, Tyler and his wife, Lindsee decided it was high time for me to actually go to this hot dog stand. i tried to be excited, i promise i did. eventually, the time came and we made our way to my doom..i mean, the hot dog stand. as many of you may have guessed (i say that like people will actually read this) that hot dog stand is j dawgs. arriving i had low expectations and high hopes of somehow getting out of the situation. the line shortened and my stomach tightened, preparing for what was ahead. Ty turned to me and asked what i was going to get on it. "ketchup". i said, not thinking there was a correct and incorrect answer. apparently there was and i had given the latter. my brother, my BLOOD, in that moment told me to leave. if i remember correctly he even pointed towards the door for dramatic effect. all sorts of confused i looked at Linds for help. Ty proceeded to explain that there was a "special sauce" that you HAD to put on it and all sorts of ridiculous toppings that were required or they would throw you out. (obviously that last part was a bit overboard on his part but he was very passionate about the process of dressing your hot dog so i didn't point that out.) proceeding down the line i was told to get a "polish" dawg, not beef. i did as a i was told (like those poor children i babysat) and eventually ended up topping it with special sauce, onions** and pickles. we each get our "dawg" and sit down. hesitating, i watch my companions take the first bite. after seeing that they didn't keel over and foam at the mouth i dive in. i do not use the phrase dive in lightly. what happened next is beyond my realm of explanation. i did not, nor do i expect to ever, understand why, how and what was going on in my mouth but i enjoyed it, to say the least. i, kelsey ann mckinnon, like hot dogs. i pause at that sentence and wonder if it is completely valid. do i really like hot dogs? have my taste buds matured (or immatured i suppose) insomuch that i actually find this non-meat meat desirable?couldn't tell you. whether we have the maturation of taste buds or the unique-ness of j dawgs to thank will always be a mystery. see, i do not plan on eating other hot dogs. for anyone who has ever eaten a j dawg you understand why. once you j dawg it, there is no going back. none of this store bought oscar meyer whatever business. it just wont do. now i understand that this post is not alone. i guarantee i could find a jillion and two odes to j dawgs among the wide world of blogging. but i just had to share today because, ladies a gentlemen a phenomenon has occurred this very january 26th of 2010. i, probably the smallest eater you will ever encounter, ate an entire j dawg. by myself. in one sitting. i wish i could be with you as you read that last sentence and applaud; because i am sure that is what is going on at this distinct moment. i would bow if i could somehow do that electronically (thats something to think about!) but for now you will just have to imagine me doing so, maybe with a little special sauce smudged on my cheek. so, today, i am grateful for j dawgs and it's ability to widen my views and tickle my taste buds. and i can bring this experience to you

because i am blessed.

*this list of food is not the same nor as long, though cheese cake and pie still grace the compilation, there are many foods that i have come to know and love over the years.

**take notice that onions are on the list of "no" foods as a child. well that has not changed. so, why did i put them on my j dawg? a question still to be answered. did i hate it? absolutely not. i still enjoy my dawg with onions today.